Jobless Rate

Boundary County was among seven in Idaho to post a double-digit unemployment rate in June.

Others were Adams, Gem, Lincoln, Payette, Shoshone and Washington counties. A year ago, the highest rate was 7.7 percent in Clearwater County.

In Boundary County, 10.1 percent of the workforce was without a job in June or 439 people. One month earlier, 11.2 percent of the workforce was without a job. In June 2008, the unemployment rate was 7.4 percent.

Across the state, the unemployment rate moved up a half percentage point from May to 8.3 percent. June’s rate was the highest since October 1983 when the state was pulling out of the double-dip recession that ushered in a major economic shift from natural resources to services augmented by some expanded advanced manufacturing — particularly in the high technology sector.

Another 3,400 Idaho workers lost their jobs in June, driving the number of unemployed to over 62,000 for the first time ever.

Owyhee County recorded the lowest rate in June at 3.5 percent, down a tenth of a point from June 2008.